I am sad for the abrupt end of Coney Island. The news broke today that this weekend will be the end of Astroland, and my one of my all-time favorite rides, The Breakdancer. Supposedly the Cyclone will live on, but the rest of the park is either dead or will be replaced by fancy new rides with safety edges and corporate sponsors.
I’m hoping it’s another bluff, but fear this might be it. I’m glad I got to go one last time, but devastated that I didn’t get to ride or vomit on The Breakdancer.
photo by Anya Garrett
It may not be the Coney Island we knew — but maybe take some comfort in the fact that, 20 or 30 or 40 (or 2!?) years from now, some OTHER young girl will be writing about the tragic loss of her safe, sponsored, “innocent” youth.
I think that kind of thing is funny.
I lived in NJ for 99% of my life and I don’t think I ever went to Coney Island. Or Asbury Park, either.
Failure — I has it.
Well, it’s sad, but the second those scumthuckers at Thor Equities got involved, it was inevitable. They destroy NYC dreams.
But FYI, click my name and check out all of the rides for sale. Breakdance is going for $299,000. And the cheapest things are the Kiddie Boats going for $15,000.
I might want those Kiddie Boats.
There is a place locally here in NH that if it should close down would be a total tragedy. Nothing really super special about the park itself or the rides but it has been around since I was a kid. It would bum me out to see it gone.
Never been to Coney Island. Never been north of Washington, D.C.
I have been to Six Flags over Georgia a few times and lemme tell ya: Goliath is quite the ride (just don’t break rules and stand underneath the Batman.… from what I’ve heard, it can.… well… google search it).